500 Days of Summer is a film based mainly upon a young gentleman, Tom Hanson (played by Joseph Gordon Levitt) and the 500 days spent in his "relationship" with Summer Finn (played by Zooey Deschanel). It cuts back and forth in time and moments, showing comparisons from when things were going well, and when Tom's life was essentially going to shit because of Summer ending what they had. It ends with Tom being bitter, but going on with his life and pursuing his dream of being an architect. In the very last scene, he asks a girl out, and coincidentally, her name is Autumn. (Ooo, irony!)
To start off, 500 Days of Summer is a romantic-comedy, but not a stereotypical one that would soccer moms and their teen/college daughters by the masses. This film has things to observe and enjoy. When watching this particular film, I felt there was a music video feel to it. One could take a few of the scenes and they each would deliver a sense of knowing what is going on without the whole film (much like a music video that runs around 3:00-4:00.) The way smash cuts were used, cutting from Tom being happy to his misery plus a couple of cutaway scenes (like when Tom and a few of his friends were talking about love as though being interviewed) delivered that feel to me personally. Not to mention, the excellent soundtrack that accompanied the film.
The director utilized these elements (and then some) very well. I want to say he was going for a film that can be enjoyed by a fair amount of people, but still keeping an indie perspective to be appreciated. The style of cuts aren't something you'll find in your everyday rom-com, plus the more witty humor and choice of soundtrack. You won't always hear The Smiths vs... I don't know. A song by Pink?
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